PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM-CARE - FILIAL BEHAVIOR AND RELATIONSHIP QUALITY OF ADULT CHILDREN WITH INDEPENDENT PARENTS

We investigated involvement of adult children in planning long-term ca re for still-healthy parents, within four decision making activities. Respondents' age, personal authority, and family stressors had positiv e effects on considering parents future needs. Daughters engaged in co nsidering care arrangements and discussing possibilities with parents somewhat more than sons did. Discussion was influenced negatively by f amily stressors and positively by personal authority. Preliminary plan ning and making final decisions occurred rarely. Results suggest that these four activities (considering, discussing, planning, deciding) ar e sequential steps. Recognizing sampling method and homogeneity limita tions, implications for professionals concerned with longterm care are identified.